LOCAL > Mosque a must for a changing Taksim, says Turkish court

An Istanbul court has rejected claims that a planned mosque would damage Taksim Square's historical identity, ruling in favor of building the long-controversial house of worship, daily Akşam has reported.

The court said a mosque in Istanbul's central square was now a must due to the changing nature of the Muslim population that has occupied it during the Republican era.

"There is an insufficient number of mosques in the area," the court said, adding that people were forced to pray on the streets on Fridays.

"There is an obvious need for mosques in Taksim," the statement of the court read. "The project would have no negative effects on the public."

The Chamber of City Planners previously filed a lawsuit, asking for the cancelation of the project on the grounds that it would damage the historical identity of the square.